Engine.



PATBNTED V:MAY 17, 1904.V

No. 760,24u. l

I. M. OVERHOLT.

ENGINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNI: 15, 1903.

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No. "76o, 24o.

Patented May 17, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. OVERHOL", OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

ENGINE.

SPECIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 760,240,1ated May 1'?, 1904.

Application led June 15, 1903. Serial No. 161,525. (No model.)

To all 11771/0111/ ift 7111/141/,con/cern.l

Be it known that I, FRANK M. OvERHoL'r, of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engines, of which the following is a specilication.

The object of my invention is to utilize exhaust-steam which is usually discharged into the open air for operating a slow-speed engine, and thereby effect a considerable economy in the expense of operating a steam-power plant.

The invention consists generally in connecting an engine to an exhaust-steam pipe that is also open to the air, the exhaust of said engine being connected with a condenser.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, the ligure represents a longitudinal section of an engine attached to an exhaust-pipe that also communicates with the open air and said engine having its exhaust connected with the condenser. (Indicated by full lines.)

In the drawings, 2 represents a steam-engine of the ordinary type having a cylinder 3 provided with the usual exhaust-pipe 3. A pipe 3 connects the exhaust with the open air, and a pipe 4 leads from the exhaust-pipe 3 to the intake-port 5 of a steam-cylinder 6. This cylinderv 6 is entirely independent of the cylinder 3, may be located at any distance therefrom, and the pistons of the two cylinders operate independently of each other and at Idiiferent speeds, the piston of the cylinder 6 having a speed considerably less than that of the piston of the cylinder 3. There is no iixed ratio between the diameters of the cylinders and one may be of considerably greater or less diameter than the other without in any way affecting the successful operation of the apparatus. In the drawings I have shown the primary cylinder 3 of greater diameter than the secondary or auxiliary cylinder 6; but it will be understood that I do not confine myself in any way to the proportions herein shown.

The cylinder 6 is provided with the usual rotary valves 7 and 8, that alternately admit steam to the cylinder, and with similar valves 7 and 8, that control the passage to the exguides 13.

haust-port9. A piston 1() is provided within the cylinder 6, having its stem 11 connected with a cross-head l2, that operates between A connecting-rod 14 is attached to the cross-heads 12. The exhaust-port 9 communicates through a pipe 14: with an ordinary jet-condenser 15, having' a water-intake pipe 16 and a discharge-pipe 17, leading to the sewer-pipe 18.` It is usually a greater distance from the exhaust to the open air than to the cylinder 6, and the resistance to the flow of steam through the pipe 3 will cause a portion to flow toward and into the open end of the cylinder; but even where this dilference in distance does not exist the starting of the engine and the subsequent flow of Steam into the cylinder from the exhaust is insured by the formation of a vacuum in one end of the cylinder as soon as the condenser is started.

The operation of the engine is as follows: With the steam-intake valves in the position shown the right-hand end of the cylinder is open to the passage of steam from the exhaustpipe, while the opposite end is closed to the intake-opening, but open through the valve 8 to the exhaust-passage leading to the condenser. The steam discharged from the exhaust-pipe 2 is usually about ora little above atmospheric pressure, and a portion of it will pass down through the pipe i and into the right-hand end of the cylinder. The opposite end of the cylinder being closed to the intake-pipe and its exhaust-valve being' open will, through the connection with the eondenser, become a vacuum, and the exhauststeam in the right-hand end of the cylinder at substantially atmospheric pressure will force the piston toward the left. Vheu it has nearly completed its stroke in that direction, the valve 7 will be closed `and the valve 7' opened, allowing the steam in the cylinder to pass into the condenser and creating a vacuum on that side of the piston. W hen the valve 7 is closed, the valve 8 will be opened, and the exhaust-steam iiowing from the pipe 4 willwpass into the left-hand end of the eylinder, destroying the vacuum therein and causing the piston to move toward the right until it reaches the limit of its stroke in that IOO direction. The operation will then be repeated, the exhaust-steam from the pipe 2 flowing alternately into eaeh end of the cylinder and being exhausted therefrom into the condenser. The engine Will continue to operate as long as any steam is discharged through the exhaust-pipe and While not suitable for use Where high speed is required can be used for operating pumps and the like with great advantage and economy. It is partienlarly adapted for use Where there is a limited supply of Water and it is desirable to provide one or more side or auxiliary powers Operating at a slow speed.

I claim as my invention- The combination with a steam-engine cylinder and its exhaust-pipe, of a second cylinder having a piston arranged to operate independently of the piston of the iirst-named cylinder, said second cylinder having intake and exhaust ports provided with intake and exhaust Valves arranged to alternately admit steam to one side of its piston and exhaust from the opposite side, a pipe leading from the intake-ports of said second cylinder and communicating with said exhaustpipe and also with the open air, and a suitable condenser eonnected with said exhaust-ports.

In Witness whereor1 I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of June, 1903.

FRANK M. OVERHOLT. In presence of- RICHARD PAUL, S. V. GRIFFIN. 

